Venezuela: two weeks without updating earthquake data

Two weeks have passed since the last official update on the death toll and damage caused by the earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, according to reports from the interim government led by Delcy Rodríguez. The most recent data was released on August 24, stating 6,509 deaths, 6,462 survivors rescued, and over 226,000 individuals receiving medical attention. Since then, the government has ceased providing daily updates, instead issuing weekly briefings that include minimal information such as the number of homes evaluated, delivered, and the amount of debris removed, exceeding 600,000 tons by August 24. The initial reports included detailed figures on injured persons, families assisted, temporary camps, personnel deployed, affected households, collapsed buildings, and even the count of aftershocks. These elements were omitted in later updates, which now focus narrowly on structural assessments and debris removal. In La Guaira, declared a disaster zone, relatives continue searching for missing loved ones among the ruins. Civil society groups have called for transparency from the Chavista regime, known for its historical opacity and manipulation of data. Provea highlighted that authorities have not provided updated numbers on missing persons since June 25, the day after the earthquakes, when only 157 disappeared were initially reported. Jorge Rodríguez, brother of the interim president and spokesperson for the government, had taken charge of disseminating earthquake-related updates. Human rights organizations demand that the Venezuelan state continuously publish both death and disappearance statistics. An NGO defending human rights stated that citizens' initiatives have identified thousands of people with unknown whereabouts, yet there is no public record supporting these claims. They urge the state to ensure continuous publication of both figures, emphasizing that this information saves lives and is a duty of the state. Fifteen human rights organizations requested the U.S. Department of State to intervene to guarantee full transparency and public accountability regarding all humanitarian aid. They called for regular publication of received aid, its origin, purpose, intended beneficiaries, and responsible parties, along with independent verification that aid reaches its designated recipients. In response to the seismic crisis, the Venezuelan government announced the commencement of controlled demolition of 39 severely damaged buildings, primarily affecting La Guaira, the epicenter of the double earthquake measuring 7.2 and 7.5. This initiative includes the mass removal of rubble and transportation of waste to the Caraballeda Temporary Disposal Center. Experts from the College of Geologists warned that structures with prior structural damage or cracks face critical collapse risks due to ongoing ground vibrations. Engineers and international commissions concluded that selected structures suffered column deformation, transverse cracking, and material fatigue. Demolition is considered essential to prevent secondary disasters from potential aftershocks or new fault movements. Specialist Pánfilo Masciangoli explained that the combination of both impacts left concrete fatigued, increasing vulnerability beyond natural seismic threats. He described the June 24 event as an exceptionally complex tectonic sequence, where the initial 7.2 quake altered stress fields, triggering the 7.5 rupture in the San Sebastian Fault. The prolonged shaking caused soil liquefaction in areas with high water tables, leading to tilted settlements and base fractures in multiple apartment towers. The official report currently states over 6,500 fatalities, with nearly 11,000 homes categorized as heavily damaged or partially collapsed.